I can say from personal experience, it now costs about double to eat out than it did pre-pandemic. Half of that increase coming this year alone. Pre-pandemic eating out at a nice place near where we live cost about $100 for the family including drinks. This week we had appetizers and one actual dinner for $180. Five dinners would have been well over $200. I hate cooking, but even McDonalds is approaching $15 per person.

Yep, we only eat out once every few weeks for date night.